Scottish Executive

Anti-Social Behaviour

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many anti-social behaviour orders have been granted in Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fife in each of the last four years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland has been commissioned by the Executive to undertake an annual exercise to determine the use being made of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), which came into force on 1 April 1999.

  The first two reports, covering 1 April to 30 November 1999 and 1 December 1999 to 30 November 2000, did not break the figures down by local authority area. Additional investigation has shown that for the period 1 December 1999 to 30 November 2000 no ASBOs were granted in Stirling or Clackmannanshire; seven were granted in Fife. The latest report, covering the period 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2001, is expected to be published by the Chartered Institute later in the summer. Copies of the report will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Birds

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26220 by Allan Wilson on 6 June 2006, what information it receives in respect of illegal poisoning of wild birds from the chemistry section of the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency and whether such information could be used to identify where illegal poisoning has taken place.

Allan Wilson: Information on individual instances of illegal poisoning details the notifier, the location, a description of the incident, the results of port mortem and pesticide residue analyses, and a conclusion. Where pesticide abuse is suspected, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department Area Office staff are asked to pursue enforcement action.

Central Heating Programme

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time was under its central heating installation programme (a) between an application qualifying and being passed to the surveyor; (b) for an application being passed from the surveyor to the heating company and (c) from an application reaching the heating company to completion of work in the period from January to June 2002 inclusive, broken down by local authority area.

Hugh Henry: The terms of the question do not reflect the procedures under the central heating programme, as administered by Eaga. An application does not qualify until after a surveyor has visited the home to verify that the terms and conditions of the programme are met.

  When eligibility is confirmed, Eaga pass the applicant’s details to a heating company. Details are generally passed on in the order in which applicants are confirmed as eligible. The period between determining eligibility and giving the applicant’s name to a heating company will vary between parts of Scotland and over the duration of the programme. There are no figures by local authority area. When the heating company is authorised to proceed, the central heating is normally installed within three months.

Central Heating Programme

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, applications which have qualified under its central heating installation programme have not yet had central heating installed, categorised by the month in which the application qualified in each of the last six months and broken down by local authority area.

Hugh Henry: In the period 1 January to 1 July 2002 there were a total of 5,301 applications for the central heating programme, as administered by Eaga. Four thousand, six hundred and fifty-nine of those applicants, or 88 % of the total, are eligible for the programme. In the same period Eaga completed 3,651 central heating installations, of which 400 related to applications submitted after 1 January 2002. The remaining 3,251 installations related to applications submitted in 2001. Eaga do not collect figures on a local authority basis.

Deaf People

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are regarding the number of specialist teachers of deaf children currently employed in each education authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21809 on 28 January 2002, which provides the most up-to-date information.

Dentists

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to review the funding for and provision of dentists.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive has no plans to review the funding for dentists. Increases in the level of fees paid to dentists for undertaking NHS general dental services are recommended annually by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB), which is independent of government. The DDRB's recommendations are based on all the evidence laid before it by the Health Departments and by representatives of the profession, including both the British Dental Association and the General Dental Practitioners' Association.

  The Executive monitors the provision of dentists and I recently announced a package of measures aimed at recruiting and retaining dentists within the general dental services. Further measures are being discussed with the dental professions' representatives.

Equal Pay

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies have an equal pay policy and which Executive department has responsibility for monitoring and encouraging compliance with good practice on equal pay.

Mr Andy Kerr: Currently, 62% of executive agencies and 35% of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) have a stated policy on equal pay. Not all of the remaining bodies/agencies actually employ staff, but all of those that do have an equal opportunities policy, which provides that staff should be treated equally in respect of all matters. For NDPBs, monitoring and compliance with good practice are monitored centrally within the Scottish Executive. Executive agencies have responsibility for monitoring and encouraging compliance with good practice.

Housing

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26361 by Ms Margaret Curran on 10 June 2002, how much was set aside by each local authority for improvement and repair grants in each financial year since April 1996 in (a) cash and (b) real terms.

Hugh Henry: The information requested for the years 1996-97 to 2000-01 has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22487). Figures are not yet available for financial year 2001-02.

Individual Learning Accounts

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies were asked by the Essentia Group whether the group should continue recruiting staff in any of the last 12 months, detailing (a) the date any such request was made, (b) the date of response, (c) any advice given and (d) the reasons behind any such advice on each occasion advice was given.

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to provide staff employed by the Essentia Group with compensation as a result of any advice or information it gave to the group in regard to recruitment, detailing the reasons behind its position on the matter.

Iain Gray: Essentia Group did not ask learndirect scotland whether it should continue recruiting staff in the any of the last 12 months.

Individual Learning Accounts

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies informed the Essentia Group that the Individual Learning Account Scheme would be re-introduced or replaced in any of the last eight months, detailing (a) the date any information was forwarded to the group, (b) whether any such information was forwarded as a result of a request from the group, (c) the information or advice provided and (d) the reasons behind any such advice or information on each occasion it was given.

Iain Gray: No request for information relating to the re-introduction or replacement of the Individual Learning Account scheme has been received from the Essentia Group. Nor has any such information been volunteered to the Essentia Group by the Scottish Executive or any of its agencies.

Individual Learning Accounts

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies informed organisations or groups involved with the Individual Learning Account scheme that the scheme had been closed and would not be re-introduced, detailing (a) who informed them and (b) the date on which the information was provided, broken down by organisation or group.

Iain Gray: No. The Executive and its agencies have consistently averred ministers’ commitment to encouraging participation in lifelong learning and have maintained the line that arrangements for doing so are under review.

Local Government Elections

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider giving local authorities the right to decide whether council by-elections should be held by postal ballot only.

Mr Andy Kerr: There are no current plans to give local authorities the right to decide whether council by-elections should be held by postal ballot only. The Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act 2002 allows ministers to extend successful pilots throughout Scotland by order but it is unlikely that they would do so on the basis of a single pilot.

National Galleries of Scotland

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a strike by staff of the National Galleries of Scotland will have on tourism.

Mike Watson: Following negotiation between National Galleries of Scotland and the trade unions, a three-year pay offer has been accepted by staff.

National Galleries of Scotland

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the terms and conditions of employment for staff of the National Galleries of Scotland adequately reflect their roles and responsibilities.

Mike Watson: The trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland are responsible for ensuring that the terms and conditions of their staff are consistent with their roles and responsibilities. The trustees are responsible for developing pay proposals that meet guidance on public sector pay and are affordable. National Galleries of Scotland has reviewed its pay systems, a pay remit for the organisation has been agreed by Scottish ministers and, following negotiation between National Galleries of Scotland and the trade unions, a three-year pay offer has been accepted by staff.

Rape

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of reported rapes occurred (a) at the victim’s home, (b) at a friend’s, neighbour’s, or relative’s home, (c) on a street away from the victim’s home, (d) at a parking lot or garages and (e) in all other locations, in each of the last five years.

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports of rapes involved a weapon being used in the commission of the crime in each of the last five years.

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rapes took place between (a) 6am and 6pm, (b) 6pm and midnight and (c) midnight and 6am in each of the last five years.

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many rapes took place where there was a prior relationship between victim and offender in each of the last five years.

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many rape cases drugs were found to be involved in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information at the level of detail requested is not collected centrally.

Scottish Executive Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a single job evaluation system covering all employees to determine who is performing equal work.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has two job evaluation systems. Senior Civil Service posts are evaluated using Job Evaluation for Senior Posts (JESP) while Job Evaluation and Grading Support (JEGS) is used for all other posts. The purpose of both systems is to establish job weight of posts on a consistent basis. This ensures that all posts of comparable weight are placed in the same pay range. More detailed information about the two systems can be found on the Cabinet Office website at:

  http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice.

Sexual Offences

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is collected centrally regarding sexual assaults.

Mr Jim Wallace: Information is collected centrally on sexual assaults in the recorded crime statistics, which are collected as an aggregate quarterly return from the eight police forces in Scotland. The returns give the total number of crimes recorded and cleared up by the police within each council area and police force area in Scotland.

  Information is not collected centrally on the circumstances of the crime or on the victims of crime.

  The crime group of sexual assault is formed from the crime categories of rape, assault with intent to rape and indecent assault.

Sport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for the provision of facilities for skateboarders and BMX riders.

Dr Elaine Murray: The responsibility for the provision of recreational and leisure services is primarily a matter for local authorities.

  However, applications for the provision of such facilities can be made to sportscotland under the Lottery Sports Fund’s Sports Facilities Programme and the recently launched Social Inclusion Partnership Programme. Another possible funding route is the PE and Sport in Schools strand of the New Opportunities Fund also launched earlier this year. Funding may also be available from the Awards for All programme though the maximum level of award is £5,000.

Teacher Training

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what standards it expects to be applied in teacher training colleges’ recruitment processes that would encourage those with special needs and, in particular, deaf people to apply for places on teacher training courses.

Nicol Stephen: Recruitment processes are a matter for higher education institutions (HEIs) themselves. In deciding on individual recruitment strategies, HEIs are able to work with local authorities to identify any localised skills shortages which may exist, and to seek to recruit students to meet this demand.

  From September 2002, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001) will make it unlawful for HEIs to discriminate against a student on grounds of their disability. This new duty will apply in relation to admissions, as well as education and associated services, and exclusions. Therefore, HEIs should take account of the Disability Rights Commission Code of Practice (Post 16), which will be published shortly, in considering their recruitment and admission policies.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its projections are for the number of (a) primary teachers and (b) secondary teachers in schools in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08, taking into account any reduction in teacher training places made in 2002 and what its projections were for those years prior to any such change.

Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the projected teacher deficit for the period 2002-03 to 2007-08:

  Projected Teacher Deficit at Start of Session

  





2002-03 
  

2003-04* 
  

2004-05 
  

2005-06 
  

2006-07 
  

2007-08 
  

Total 
  



Primary 
  

1,083 
  

981 
  

934 
  

977 
  

998 
  

1,093 
  

6,066 
  



Secondary 
  

1,019 
  

1,042 
  

1,028 
  

1,048 
  

1,066 
  

944 
  

6,147 
  



Total 
  

2,102 
  

2,023 
  

1,962 
  

2,025 
  

2,064 
  

2,037 
  

12,213 
  



  Note:

  * The revision to PGCE intake levels announced in March 2002 does not effect these projections. These changes were made to avoid a likely excess of the supply which would neither be in the interests of the individual students, nor the teaching profession as a whole.

  The estimated 3,000 additional teachers required in order to implement the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century are included within these projections.

  The estimates of teacher deficit will vary from year to year as information varies on early retirements, resignations and the level at which qualified teachers return to the profession from career breaks.

Wildlife

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether wildlife crime is recorded as a crime for the purpose of national statistics and, if not, whether there are any plans for this to be done.

Mr Jim Wallace: All offences involving wildlife, including offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, are included in the recorded crime statistics. However, they cannot be separately distinguished from other offences recorded within the category of Offences involving Animals/Plants.